Rep. David E. Miller

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. In the definition of "children with disabilities", provides that an eligible student who requires continued public school educational experience to facilitate his or her successful transition and integration into adult life is eligible for special education services through age 21, inclusive, which, for purposes of the Article, means the day before the student's 22nd birthday. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Deletes the provision that refunds with respect to the earned income tax credit are subject to the availability of funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant and the State's ability to meet its required Maintenance of Effort. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, School Code, Child Passenger Protection Act, and Unified Code of Corrections. Makes various changes regarding: driver education requirements; graduated driver's licenses; instruction permits for minors; curfews for drivers under a specified age; the number of passengers under a specified age allowed in a vehicle driven by a newly licensed driver under a certain age; the use of seat safety belts; the use of wireless telephones by graduated driver's license holders; suspensions of driver's licenses of drivers under age 21 under specified circumstances; required appearances before the presiding judge with a parent or guardian under specified circumstances; vehicle impoundment for drivers arrested for street racing; and other matters. Repeals provisions creating the offense of drag racing. Creates the offenses of street racing and aggravated street racing, and makes conforming changes. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2008, except that the provisions amending the School Code are effective July 1, 2008.

Amends the State Treasurer Act to provide that moneys held in an account invested in the Illinois College Savings Pool shall be exempt from all claims of the creditors of the participant, donor, or designated beneficiary of that account, except for non-exempt College Savings Pool transfers to or from the account. Defines "participant" and "donor". Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that moneys held in an account invested in the Illinois College Savings Pool of which the debtor is a participant or donor is personal property that is exempt from judgment, attachment, or distress from rent except for: (i) contributions to the account made with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor, (ii) certain contributions to the account made during the 365 day period prior to the date of the debtor filing for bankruptcy in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion; or (iii) certain contributions to the account made during the 730 to 366 day period prior to the date of the debtor filing for bankruptcy in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion.

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that when a person who has not previously been convicted of or placed on probation for felony prostitution is guilty of felony prostitution, the court, without entering a judgment and with the consent of the person, may sentence the person to probation. Provides that when a person is placed on probation for felony prostitution, the court shall order a period of probation of 24 months and defer further proceedings until the conclusion of the period or until the filing of a petition alleging violation of probation. Provides that the conditions of probation shall be that the person: not violate any criminal statute of any jurisdiction; refrain from possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon; submit to periodic drug testing at a time and in a manner as ordered by the court, but no less than 3 times during the period of the probation, with the cost of the testing to be paid by the probationer; and perform no less than 30 hours of community service if community service is available in the jurisdiction and is funded and approved by the county board. Provides that the court may impose other conditions of probation. Provides that upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings. Provides that there may be only one discharge and dismissal under this provision. Provides that if a person is convicted of prostitution within 5 years after a discharge and dismissal under this provision, the discharge and dismissal shall be admissible in the sentencing proceeding for that conviction as evidence in aggravation. Effective immediately.

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that every hospital, fire station, emergency medical facility, and police station that is required to accept a relinquished newborn infant in accordance with the Act must post a sign in a conspicuous place on the exterior of the building housing the facility informing persons that a newborn infant may be relinquished at the facility in accordance with the Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to prescribe specifications for the signs and for their placement that will ensure statewide uniformity. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Justice Study Committee to review all non-capital wrongful conviction cases, identify the most common causes of wrongful conviction in non-capital cases, identify current law, and identify solutions.

Creates the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Creates several definitions. Prohibits smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles. Requires "No Smoking" signs to be posted in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited. Requires ashtrays to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Prohibits smoking in student dormitories, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, dining areas, restrooms, laundry areas, lobbies, and hallways, of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education. Provides that the Department of Public Health, State-certified local public health departments, and local law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth fines for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department, a State-certified local public health department, local law enforcement agency, or any individual personally affected by repeated violations may institute, in a circuit court, an action to enjoin violations of the Act. Prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their rights afforded by the Act. Provides that a home rule unit may regulate smoking in public places, but that regulation must be no less restrictive than the provisions in the Act. Prohibits smoking within a minimum distance of 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Repeals the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act.

Congratulates Jane Rowland on the occasion of being the recipient of the 2007 American Library Association Trustee Citation.

Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Lieutenant Governor, with the advice of the Broadband Deployment Council, shall enlist a nonprofit corporation to implement a comprehensive, statewide high speed Internet deployment strategy and adoption initiative. Specifies the duties of the nonprofit organization. Provides that nothing in the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Law shall be construed as giving the Lieutenant Governor, the Broadband Deployment Council, the nonprofit organization, or other entities any additional authority, regulatory or otherwise, over providers of telecommunications, broadband, and information technology. Creates the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used, subject to appropriation, by the Lieutenant Governor for purposes of providing grants to the nonprofit organization enlisted under the Law. Provides that on the effective date of the Law, all moneys in the Digital Divide Elimination Infrastructure Fund which have not already been distributed or ordered distributed by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall be transferred to the High Speed Internet Services and Information Technology Fund. Contains other provisions concerning local governmental entities who undertake local broadband projects. Amends the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a telecommunications carrier that is not subject to regulation under an alternative regulation plan pursuant to specified provisions may reduce the rate or charge for a noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality offered to customers on a separate, stand-alone basis or as part of a bundled service offering by filing with the Commission a tariff that shows the reduced rate or charge and all applicable terms and conditions of the noncompetitive service, service element, feature, or functionality or bundled offering. Provides that provisions concerning basic local exchange service quality and the consumer complaint resolution process do not apply to telephone cooperatives. Changes the repeal date of the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law of 1985 from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2009.